Public university

A public university is an institution of university higher education that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or regional government. In Australia, Canada, Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe, most significant universities are public, while in the United States and Japan, both public and private universities are common. In communist countries such as China and Cuba, virtually all universities are state-run.

Related Topics:
University - Higher education - Australia - Canada - Germany - Portugal - United Kingdom - Europe - United States - Japan - Private universities - Communist - China - Cuba

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Public university tuition, if any, is typically lower than in private universities.

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In the United States, most public universities are state universities, which are founded and operated by state government entities. Every U.S. state has at least one public university to its name, and the largest states have more than a dozen. States generally charge higher tuition to out-of-state students, a practice which the United States Supreme Court has deemed constitutional because the state is acting as a market participant providing a service, rather than protecting a fundamental right.

Related Topics:
United States - State universities - State - United States Supreme Court - Market participant - Fundamental right

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It has never been determined whether the U.S. Constitution would allow the federal government to establish a federal university system, but the only federally chartered universities that currently exist are those under the auspices of the U.S. military, such as West Point, the Naval Academy and the United States Air Force Academy.

Related Topics:
U.S. Constitution - Federal - U.S. military - West Point - Naval Academy - United States Air Force Academy

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In Canada and Germany, education, including the administration of universities, is the responsibility of the individual provinces (in Canada) or Bundesländer (in Germany).

Related Topics:
Canada - Germany - Provinces - Bundesländer

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While historically in the United States private universities have been considered superior, public institutions like University of Michigan, University of California at Berkeley, and University of Virginia have proven to be some of the most prestigious in the nation. World-wide, public institutions like Beijing University, Eth Zurich, Oxford, Cambridge, and Tokyo University are also held in simlar esteem. In fact, a recent study of the world's best universities by the London Times Higher Education Supplement awarded four of the top 10 spots to public universities--with UC Berkeley 2nd, Oxford and Cambridge 5th and 6th, and ETH Zurich rounding out the top 10.

Related Topics:
University of Michigan - University of California at Berkeley - University of Virginia - Beijing University - Eth Zurich - Oxford - Cambridge - Tokyo University - London Times Higher Education Supplement - UC Berkeley

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